Illuminated golf ball

• US 6,257,995 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2000
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chemical Light Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Chemical Light Incorporated
• Inventors: Schrimmer, Michael L., Musial, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US09/479,857
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 473/353, 473/570
• US Class Current: 473/353
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0055 with non-spherical insert(s)
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

An illuminatable golf ball includes an outer translucent shell and an inner core portion surrounded by the outer shell. The ball includes a self-contained lighting device formed and contained at least in part within the inner core portion. The lighting device includes an energy source, a pair of lighting elements, and connectors extending between the energy source and the lighting elements defining an electrical circuit. The lighting device includes a switch for energizing and deenergizing the lighting device. The switch can include a plunger insertable into the ball through an opening in the outer shell and through a bore in the inner core portion. The plunger is configured to change the state of the electrical circuit when it is inserted into and removed from the bore to energize and deenergize the lighting elements. The switch can also be of the force actuatable type.

Claims

1. An illuminatable golf ball comprising:

an outer translucent shell having an opening therein;

an inner core portion surrounded by the outer shell, the inner core having a bore therein in alignment with the opening in the outer shell;

a self-contained lighting device contained at least in part within the inner core portion, the lighting device including a battery, at least one lighting element, and at least two connectors extending between the battery and the at least one lighting element defining an electrical circuit having a deenergized state and an energized state for providing electrical energy from the battery to the at least one lighting device, at least one of the connectors being flexible and separable from the battery, at least a portion of the at least one flexible connector being positioned within the inner core bore; and

a plunger configured for insertion into the bore,

wherein when the plunger is inserted into the bore between the battery and the at least one connector separating the battery and at least one flexible connector, the plunger intermediately contacts the battery and at least one flexible connector changing the state of the electrical circuit from one of the energized state to the deenergized state or the deenergized state to the energized state.

2. The illuminatable golf ball in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plunger is at least in part electrically non-conductive and wherein when the plunger is removed from the bore, the at least one flexible connector contacts the energy source and closes the electrical circuit to change the state of the circuit from the deenergized state to the energized state.

3. The illuminatable golf ball in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plunger is at least in part electrically conductive and wherein when the plunger is inserted into the bore, the plunger, completes the electrical circuit to change the state of the electrical circuit from the deenergized state to the energized state.

4. The illuminatable golf ball in accordance with claim 1 wherein the energy source is a battery.

5. The illuminatable golf ball in accordance with claim 4 wherein the battery is a button-type battery.

6. The illuminatable golf ball in accordance with claim 1 wherein the lighting device includes two lighting elements and wherein the lighting device includes two connectors, at least one of the connectors being a flexible connector that is positioned adjacent to and separable from the energy source.

7. The illuminatable golf ball in accordance with claim 2 wherein the entirety of the plunger is formed of an electrically non-conductive material.

8. The illuminatable golf ball in accordance with claim 3 wherein the entirety of the plunger is formed of an electrically conductive material.

9. The illuminatable golf ball in accordance with claim 1 wherein the inner core portion is formed of polyurethane.

10. The illuminatable golf ball in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer shell is formed of polyurethane.

11. The illuminatable golf ball in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer shell is formed with dimples.

12. The illuminatable golf ball in accordance with claim 6 wherein the two lighting elements are connected in the electrical circuit in parallel.

13. A method for making an illuminatable golf ball comprising the steps of:

positioning a battery, at least one lighting element, and at least two connectors relative to one another such that the at least two connectors extend between the battery and the at least one lighting element to define an electrical circuit having a deenergized state and an energized state for providing electrical energy from the battery to the at least one lighting device, at least one of the connectors being flexible and separable from the battery;

positioning a plunger between the flexible connector and the battery in separating intermediate contact with the flexible connector and battery;

forming an inner core portion around the electrical lighting device such that the battery, the at least two connectors, and a portion of the lighting element are within the inner core portion; and

forming an outer translucent shell around the inner core portion so as to envelope the inner core portion.

14. The method for making an illuminatable golf ball in accordance with claim 13 including positioning the connectors so as to rest on the energy source.

15. The method for making an illuminatable golf ball in accordance with claim 13 including positioning one of the connectors in spaced relation to the energy source.